Courtesy: Beverly SchaeferThe Princeton wrestling team will compete in its final two dual meets of the season this weekend, including the Ivy finale Saturday at Penn. The Class of 2013 will be honored Sunday during the team's home finale against Boston University.
Princeton will take on Penn at the Palestra Saturday at 1 pm, and it will host Boston University Sunday at 1 pm. Both matches will be available on GoPrincetonTigers.TV.
Princeton has struggled in team competition through an injury-riddled season, though it can end the season on a positive note this weekend. The Tigers are 2-11 during the team season, which has included a handful of Top 25 opponents; they have been without 2012 EIWA placewinners Garrett Frey (125), Chris Perez (133), and Adam Krop (141), each of whom suffered an injury and missed the season.
Each will return next year.
Senior co-captain Zach Bintliff (149) has been the team's top upperclassman this year, and he can reach the 20-win mark for the first time in his career with a sweep this weekend. Of course, freshman teammate Scott Gibbons could beat him to that mark, as the 184-pound freshman has a team-best 19 victories this season.
Gibbons was one of two Princeton freshmen to win against Columbia at the New York Athletic Club last weekend. Gibbons defeated Drew Rebling by an 11-0 major decision, while 285-pound starter Cole Lampman fought off Chris Manna for a 3-2 win.
Penn is 8-3 on the season, 3-1 in the Ivy League, and has several contenders for All-America honors. Junior Micah Burak is 10-2 on the season and ranked eighth nationally, while 141-pound freshman Charles Cook is 18-6 and ranked 10th.
One of the top matches in the dual meet could come at 184, where Gibbons is likely to take on Penn sophomore Canaan Bethea, who has 20 victories this season.
Boston University is 7-9 on the season, including a pair of losses last weekend against both Harvard and Brown. The Terriers are led by 157-pound junior Nestor Taffur, who has 28 wins at 157 pounds.
